If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

It is fairly common, but it has been my experience that it should be a clean handle and the dog needs to show that he at least marked the bird well enough to be near the area of the fall. I handle it just as if I were hunting, I don't want my dog hunting all over the place if I can see he's close to the bird but not coming up with it I handle.

I think the other thing to consider is the notion of handling "IN" the area of the fall, versus handling "TO" the fall.

It's been written and said that "not all handles are created equally".

Another passage written in some rulebooks is "A crisp handle is preferable to a long hunt".

I think that, much is within the judges' interpretation. I think a good set of judges will evaluate the overall situation and not come into it with too many preconceived notions.

"Determining and applying the criteria for when and when not to use correction is the essence of the art of dog training. I make a distinction between a mistake and a lack of effort." - Mike Lardy - Volume I "After Collar Conditioning"